Atletico could attempt to acquire Costa and not play him until the new year – as Barcelona did when they signed Arda Turan from Atletico when under a similar sanction in July 2015 – but the striker has indicated he does not want to do this with the World Cup next summer.

Instead it is possible that a deal could be struck whereby Costa leaves Chelsea on loan until January and then switches back to Atletico who want him to return and, aware of his desire to go, will attempt to negotiate. No fee has yet been discussed.

Costa is currently on international duty with SpainCredit:
EPA

Costa tried to force his way out of Chelsea in January when a lucrative deal to China was proposed and that offer returned towards the end of the season – with a fee of £76million proposed – but has indicated a preference now for Atletico.

The 28-year-old reiterated after scoring in Spain's 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Macedonia that he felt his Chelsea career was over and there was no point him trying to remain at the club, where he is contracted until 2019, and fight for his place: "Things don't work like that. The fight for a place has to be fair. When there is a fair fight you stay and fight but if there isn't then you have to go."

It is clear that Conte wants Costa to go – and his abrupt text message to the player was provoked by one he received from Costa - and Chelsea regard their former striker Romelu Lukaku as their first-choice target to replace him even if they continue to balk at Everton’s £100million asking price.

Costa said: "You need to ask Conte what has happened, he's the coach and if he has the option of signing someone else and doesn't want to have problems with a senior player then that's normal.

"But there are ways of saying things, ways of doing things. Thanks to God I'm not lacking teams (to join). If Chelsea don't want me I will choose the best option for me."

Tellingly Costa said he did not regard Atletico’s transfer ban as an obstacle. "I have a contract with Chelsea for two years. If they decide to sell me I will search for the best choice of team for me,” he explained.

Costa is keen on a return to Atletico MadridCredit:
Reuters

"Atletico are among those teams. Signing for Atletico wouldn't mean not playing, I could go (on loan) to some team in Spain, in Italy, in Brazil...wherever I can continue playing.

"Everyone knows that Atletico is a club that I have a lot of love for. Regardless of if I return or not, I'm always going to continue loving them. Now we have to wait to see how things turn out."

Costa said he was, at present, ruling out joining the Chinese Super League. "I rule out China, I have to think about my future. I have to think about the World Cup,” he said.

“If I fight and I do things well I'll have every chance of going to the World Cup. I cannot go to China." As ever, though, with Costa the situation remains extremely fluid.